Bridge.



1. B. STRAUSS.

BRIDGE.

APPucATloN FILED ocT.2a. 1912.

Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

I. B. STRAUSS.

BRIDGE..

APPLICATION FILED 0CT.28, I9I2 LlAG., Patented 10t.`19, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` `JOSEPH B. STBAUSS, OF CHICAGO, LLINOIS.

BRIDGE.

its object to orovide 'a new and improved device yo'f this description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingvdrawings, whereinA y Figure 1 is a side elevation diagrammatic in foim 'illustrating one form of inventionv as applied to a lift bridge Fig, 2 is an' end view of thel device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3

.is a side elevation showing the method of constructing the bridge without false work. Fig. 4 isa `sectional v iew of one o f the tower members taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

Asillustrated in 'the drawing,there is provided a vertically movable part l, herein shown as a bridge span, and adapted to rest upon the piers 2, 3 and 4. At tlieend .of the vertically movable part 1 is located a. tower or support, preferably made of two sectionsfoiie at each side, said vertically movable part projecting between the two separated sections. Associated with the sections of the tower are the racks 5, there being preferably fourracks, two on each side of theV vertically movable part, the racks on one side being separated from the 'racks on the other side by thewidth of the span, the opposed separated' racks being, however, preferably directly opposite each other. Attached tothe vertically movable part are the toothed vwheels 6 which engage said racks. vThese toothed wheels are operatively connected with sonie suitable operating mechanism so that they can be rotated so as to move the vertically movable part up or down along said tower. For purpose of illustration, I have shown a. motor 7 connected with the vertically movable part, said motor driving a shaft 8 which is connected by beveled gears to shafts 9, which latter shafts by means of shaft 5 and beveled gears 5b operatively connect with the toothed wheels (ipso that when the motor is operated, all of said wheels will be rotated. The tower supports or posts 9 are preferably of I beam shape as shown in Fig. 4.

Specification of Letters Patent.

the counterweight.

.Y i Patented Oct. 19, 1915.

Application led October 28, l191.22. Serial No. 728,103.

provided with wheels 6a which engage one l member 72L of these beams (see Fig. 4). The wheels 6Il are groovedi so asn to prevent longitudinal movement ofthe main span 1. T lie toothed wheels 6 are preferably pivotally connected at (3b with the part lso as to give freedom of movement and prevent binding. The pivots 6", it will be noted, (see Fig. 2) are shown as horizontal pivots. These pivots permit themain span a certain amount of movementwithout interfering with the connection between the pinions Stand the racks 5. I t will be noted that since the main span projects beyond the support and the arm, is connected to it beyond the support, "there will be a tendency, particularly at the starting and stopping, for the main span to have a' certain amount of movement, although said span is properly balanced, and these pivots permit this movement, as above set out. Connected with the vertically movable part in line with the center of gravity is a connecting piece 10. Pivotally connected with this connecting piece is an arm or lever 11 rota-y tably mounted upon. the support orftower at the end of the vertically movable part. There is also connected with this yconnecting piece 10, a link orv lever 12, to which is connected a` counter-weight 13, the link 12 being connected with the lever 11'. Asrhere,- in shown, this connection is made through It willA be notefhth-at the supports or main posts ofthe tower for they levers ll'which ysupport the counterweights, each carries one of theser levers and also carries a iack 5 and at the saine time forms a guide for the lmovable span. The

lever 11 is also provided with a counterf weight 14, the two counterweights counterbalancing the vertically movable *partv and the system of levers. By this construction, means are provided for counteracting the circular movement of the ends of the lever 11, oi link or lever 12, so that the vertically movable part canv be lifted vertically. In other words, there are means provided for compensating for the pivotal movement of the levers so as to allow the vertically movable part to be moved vertically without interference and without being moved longitudinally or through the arc of a circle, the movement being confined to a vertical movement, as this is necessary to maintain the proper connection between the toothed wheels 6 and the racks 5. It will be noted that the effect of the counterweights is 'applied to the span intermediate its ends which has the effect of reducing the dead load stresses of the span, thus securing economy by reducing the weight of metal required. 4In cases, for example, where the device is used in connection with a bridge having a very long span, it may be desirable to shorten the .levers 11 and 12. This may be done by providing the end of the span with a counterweight 15 so as to bring the center of gravity nearer the tower. position of the center of gravity 4may be therefore-controlled at will to meet the conditions presented. If two towers and lifting mechanisms are provided, one at each side, of the space to be spanned, they are duplicates. It often happens, for example, that it is only possible to have an operating or lifting mechanism at one end of the mainy span. lThis-is particularly true in cities where the land is exceedingly valu- -able and is taken up so that proper space at each endy ofthe span for a support cannot be secured. It also happens that in view of certain structures where bridges 'are used as inconnection with elevated railaddition, fa cheaper and 'more economical construction 'may be provided due to the fact that onlyl vone lifting apparatus at one end of the span may be used. In the operation'of the device, when it is desired to lift l the part l, the motor or other power device is set into y'operation-so as to rotate the toothedv wheels in the direction to cause them'to climb up the racks thus cai-Tying the part` l with them. Practically the entire weight vofthe part 1 is counterbalanced by the counterweights 13 and 14, and hence the motor and pinions and racks have only a small amount of work to do. As the part l moves up, the counterweights move down and the system of levers compensate for the pivotal 'movement of the levers so as to allow the part l to be moved vertically and secure 4the proper counterbalancing action at all its various positions.

`This construction may be built on the ground without false work. In building the device without false work, the tower portion is first constructed and then the le vers 11 and 12 and connecting piece 10 may be connected.' The end of the main span is then built up to the connecting piece 1Q, the tower acting to support the apparatus and the end of the span. This built portion of the span is blocked in position by means of the blocks 16 and 17, so as to act as a cantilever.' When the span is built necessity of false work. The main span can The outv to( 4the connecting ypiecel 10, ysaid connecting piece is attached thereto and then the remaining portion of the main span 1s built out in a cantilever form without the .p

be built out in this manner while in its lifted position. v

In this construction, a single tower or supporting device. at one end of the main span may be built solas to satisfactorily resist the lateral and horizontal yforces on the span as said span is raised and lowered. By means of this constructiom the bridge span may be lifted andv lowered to a great height to permit vessels to pass thereunder, and this maybe done by the Ause of only a small amount of power. -f

l. A bridge lcomprising avertically movable span, operating-mechanism at one end of said span and operatively connected therewith at different points along its length and a counterbalancing device 'connected with said span at its center of gravity.

2. A bridge comprising a'vertic-ally movable span, a support located at'oneend of said span, 'operating mechanism connected with said span, at the support end thereof, at two points along its length, a count'erbalancin arm connected to the span at its center of gravity said counterbalancingv arm mounted upon said support.

, 8. A bridge comprising a vertically movable span, a fixed support at oneend of said span,l separated racks and cooperative toothed wheels connected with said support and span'respectively, means for actuating saidtoothed wheels sofas to cause themto move along said racks and a. counterweighted arni'movably connected with the fixed f105 support said arm connected withrsaidspan at a point between "its ends.

4. Avbridge comprising a vertically movable span, anfixed support at one' end 'of said span, separated racks and coperative 110 toothed wheels connected with said support and span respectively', means for actuating said toothed wheels' so as tocause them to move along-said racks and a counterweighted arm movably connectedwith the fixed support said arm connected with said span at a point between its ends and means associated with said arm for compensating` for the pivotal movement' thereof so as t0 allow v the span'to be moved vertically. y 120 5. A bridge'comprising a vertically movi able Span, a support located at one end of said span, operating 'mechanism connected with said span, at the support end thereof, at. two points along its length, a counterb'alancing arm connected to the span at its center of gravity said` counterbalan'cing arm mounted upon said support andr means for bringing thel center of gravity of the span nearer .the end ofthe span where theopera- 130 tive mechanism is located than to the other end so as to shorten said counterbalancing arm.

6. A lifting device comprising a vertically movable part, a fixed support at one end of said vertically movable part, a counterweighted arm carried by said support and connected with the vertically movable part at its center of gravity and operating mechanism operatively connected with said vertically movable part at the end thereof where the support is located.

7. A lifting device comprising a vertically movable part, a tower at one end thereof having portions on opposite sides of said vertically movable part, one end of said vertically movable part extending between said portions, the other end projecting outv. ardly beyond the tower, two racks on each of said portions located at different points along the length of said span, toothed wheels on the vertically movable part operatively engaging said racks, an actuating device for rotating the toothed wheels to cause them to move along said racks, and means for counterbalancing said vertically movable part so that the two ends thereof move vertically when the toothed wheels are actuated.

8. A vertically movable bridge span in combination with means at one end thereof for restraining the vertical movement of said bridge span to substantially parallel lines, so that it occupies successive parallel positions when moved, said means comprising a support having two posts, one on each side of the roadway, racks on each of said posts, pinions on-the span engaging said racks, a driving device for the pinions, an arm rotatively mounted on said support and connected with said span intermediate its ends, a device associated with said arm for compensating for its rotative movement, and a counterweight connected with said arm.

9. A vertically movable bridge span in combination with means at one end thereof for restraining the vertical movement of said bridge span to substantially parallel lines, so that it occupies successive parallel positions when moved, said means comprising a support having two posts, one on each' side of the roadway, the end of said span projecting between said post-s so that they limit the lateral movement thereof, an arm rotatively mounted upon each post, and connected with said span at a Vdistance from saidposts, a device associated witheach arm'for compensating for its rotative movement, a counterweight connected with each arm, and operative mechanism for applying power to said span tolift and lower it.

10. A bridge comprising a vertically movable span, a support located at one end of said span, operating mechanism connected with said span at the support end thereof, a counterbalancing arm connected to the span between its ends, said counterbalancing arm mounted upon said support.

11. A bridge comprising a vertically movable span, a single support therefor and means associated with said support for resisting the lateral and horizontal forces on the span as the span is raised and lowered.

12. The combination with the bridge span moving in parallel lines so that it occupies successive parallel positions, of a tower support at one end thereof having two front posts, one on each side of the roadway, between which the end of said span projects so as to be guided thereby, an arm rotatively mounted on each of said front posts,.a device associated with each arm for compensating for the rotative movement thereof, counterweights connected with said arms, racks also carried by said front posts, pinions on said span engaging said racks and driving mechanism for said pinions.

13. A bridge comprising a vertically movable span, an arm connected with said span, a support with which said armis movably connected, an operating mechanism for said span comprising separated rigid racks, selfadjusting pinions engaging said racks, a. shafteXtending along the main span and connecting with said pinions so as to operate them and a motor connected with said shaft, the operating mechanism and arm coperating to lift the bridge.

14. A bridge comprising a vertically movable span, an arm connected with said span, a support with which said arm is movably connected, a counterweight connected with said arm, pinions connected with said main span at one end,l thereof at dierent points along its length,`a shaft extending along the main span and yoperatively connected with said pinions and a motor operatively con. nected with said shaft, the operating mechanism and arm cooperating to lift the bridge.

in testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in the presence of twofwitnesses this 12th day of October 1912.

JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

MINNIE M. LINDENAU, LULU JORDAN. 

